Paul Jones was in goal behind a back four of Billy Coyne, Aaron Goode, Dominic Shimmin and Andrew Howell. Kieron St Aimie, Marc Bircham, Stefan Bailey and Rohan Ricketts were in midfield with Shabazz Baidoo and Ray Jones up top.

The visitors started the better side and their most experienced player, Danny Granville, was raiding down the left to good effect. He combined well with the impressive James Dayton to send the ball into the box. It rebounded to midfielder Jamie Smith and he fired home via the upright in only the ninth minute.

Rangers didn’t take long to get back on terms though. Marc Bircham flighted a free kick to the far post and it looked to be drifting out of play before St Aimie got there to nod back into the danger zone. Ray Jones was on hand to plant a firm header past keeper Wilkinson from six yards. It was great work from the promising St Aimie, a player that has had much of his developmental years cruelly taken from him by a serious knee injury.

Rangers were well in control and not allowing Palace the chance to test Paul Jones. Aaron Goode in particular was having a tremendous game alongside Shimmin; he was first to almost every header in the first period much to the delight of his youth team mentor Joe Gallen. 

With just over twenty minutes played Rangers made it 2-1 with a left footed strike from Stefan Bailey. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and Bailey seized the ball on the edge of the box and swivelled to fire a fine shot into the far corner. Only a few minutes had passed when Rangers added to their advantage. 

A ball over the top sent Baidoo and defender Moses Swaibu galloping after it. The defender seemed to have gotten the better of the young striker but as he got there keeper Wilkinson was coming off his line and Swaibu executed a delicate lob into the far corner! Had a striker scored this everyone would be raving about what a cool finish it was!

Just before the break Rangers capped an excellent half with a fourth goal. Bailey was the man in the action once again as he read a slack pass in midfield and surged forward before lashing a screamer into the roof of the net via Wilkinson’s outstretched hands.

The second half started with Palace looking the stronger having clearly had a flea in their collective ear from Kit Symons. The hitherto impressive Billy Coyne was beaten by Dayton and his ball into the box was attacked by Goode. He headed the ball high but his partner Shimmin failed to go for the dropping ball and Ryan Hall was on hand to volley home a soft goal from the edge of the box.

Soon after Palace moved to within one goal of their hosts as Tommy Black (remember him!) scored a fine goal. Black picked up the ball in his wide right berth and moved inside without anyone getting any pressure on him.

He sent a left footed curler toward goal and veteran Paul Jones went down in instalments as he tried to save. The ball had hit the net before Jones got down and The Eagles were back in the game.

Gallen sent on Romone Rose for Ray Jones just after the hour mark, which implies Jones will be involved against Stoke on Sunday. Jones had been impressive and John Gregory’s comments at the fans forum seem to have given Ray the rocket he required.

Shortly after Bircham was replaced by Matt O’Brien after feeling his knee in an innocuous looking challenge. Bircham had worked hard as usual but looked well short of match sharpness (unsurprisingly). He had also put in a couple of niggly challenges that showed he is well on the mend! 

Rangers made the game safe when Rohan Ricketts scored the fifth. Cutting in from the left wing he dribbled across the box but seemed to have lost the ball but a lucky bounce brought it back to his feet. He set himself before passing a lovely shot into the bottom corner of the net. It was a terrific goal but Ricketts had seemed a little selfish throughout the game to me. There were a few times when a pass was on but he chose to go on his own and more often than not the chance came to nothing. 

With ten minutes left St Aimie seemed to tweak his hamstring taking his man on and was quickly replaced by Chris Arthur. He seemed to indicate that it was a slight pull and nothing serious to Joe Gallen but it may well curtail any hopes he had of a first team debut against Stoke on Sunday. 

This was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon in W12 and quite a few of the players will have reason to be pleased with their displays. Coyne and Goode looked in good form at the back as did Bailey in the middle of the park. Ray Jones was a constant threat and could have scored more than one having seen a header cleared off the line and a fierce strike well saved by the keeper. All in all, a very good end to the season for the young reserves.

QPR: Jones P, Coyne, Goode, Shimmin, Howell, St Aimie (Arthur), Bircham (O’Brien), Bailey, Ricketts, Jones R (Rose), Baidoo. Subs not used: Goodchild, Brown